I don't think it was. But it was tasty nonetheless! BTW, as is often the case, I think the lasagna tasted even better the next day when I got hungry and scarfed down DH's leftovers!

My favorite comfort food is pav bhaji, a Mumbai snack food/one dish meal. I make it with butter, but you can easily substitute olive or canola oil. With oil instead of butter, it is vegan (assuming the bread - see below - is vegan).

Anyway, the "pav" is a soft white bread, similar in consistency, taste, and look to a hot dog bun (and what we often use. But any soft white bread will do). We butter it and toast it, but spreading olive oil and then toasting it would work just as well.

The bhaji is a vegetable stew that is served on the bread, open faced sandwich style. It is thick, about the consistency of mashed potatoes. And potatoes are a must in it, other than that you can sort of make it up as you go...a great way to use up leftover cooked veggies. The bhaji is flavored with pav bhaji spice mix, which can be found in any Indian food store. There is usually a recipe on the back, follow it with your own vegan improvisations. Cooked potatoes, peas, carrots, onions, cauliflower, and/or eggplant always make it into my mix. Chopped tomatoes and cilantro as well. Saute up all the vegetables along with a chopped garlic clove and the Pav Bhaji spice mix (It is best to pre-boil the longer-cooking vegetables, or just use leftovers that are already cooked). Add chopped tomatoes and cilantro and a squeeze of lime; mash the potatoes a bit in the pot and add water until you have the desired consistency (like lumpy mashed potatoes).. Serve on the toasted bread garnished with chopped red onion and cilantro. Sorry I am not giving amounts, but it always varies depending on the crowd I'm cooking for. The beauty of pav bhaji is that it is forgiving, and lends itself to experimentation with the veggie combinations. But it is ALWAYS comforting!

I was a little surprised that a search of Chowhound showed no mention of this place, so I thought I would chime in. We had gone to an event at the Sparks Heritage Museum this evening, and had planned on heading over to the Great Basin afterwards for some beer and fish and chips. But the wait was long, and for once DH was the one who was too impatient and hungry to wait. So we headed back to the sign I had seen for Pietro's which had intrigued me on the walk over....

The restaurant is right on Victorian Square, but hard to find if you don't know where to look. Its actually upstairs, above the Blind Onion bar. You walk down a long hallway and up stairs or elevator to get there. Once inside, its kind of kitschy, but at least tonight it was quiet and we had a nice booth for the "date night" experience.

We both had pasta: DH had the vegetarian lasagna, and I had the Spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, red pepper, and parmesan cheese. (OK, can't spell the Italian name:-). He had the house salad to start (large variety of greens with a vineagrette dressing); I had the minestrone soup (light broth and lots of fresh vegetables). The servings were all very generous. The lasagna in particular was enough for two meals, and had a wide variety of vegetables (spinach, broccoli, etc) between the layers. DH enjoyed it very much, and is looking forward to his lunch tomorrow. I thought the sauce was very tasty and the lasagna noodles looked home-made, but it was a little heavy on the cheese for my taste. My spaghetti was a large plate of garlic heaven. I insisted DH try it (mainly so we would both reek:-) and he ended up taking several large bites...but there were still leftovers!

The tiramasu sounds wonderful, and I must try it sometime. However, we only had room for one dessert, and when DH heard that his all-time favorite (spumoni) is on the menu, it was obvious what we would share. I must say: I am not a big spumoni fan but this was the real deal, with plenty of pistachios mixed in and a true pistachio flavor. My cappuchino was also the real deal, which is why I am up typing past midnight:-).

Service was very attentive and our food came quickly but not excessively so. The waiter made sure we had plenty of (crusty and fresh) bread to dip in their olive oil/balsamic mixture. Dinner for two, including two glasses of the house cabernet, tax and tip was just under 65 dollars. DH promised to bring me back one day soon to try the tiramasu...:-)

Neither: Medical residency (I keep telling myself that's not really school so its ok for the Cal folks.:-) Anyway, he'll have a car, but time might be a consideration...Anyway, I like the arepas and tacos suggestions, thanks.

So ok, folks, if its Sunnyvale for Indian, what are your favorites there???

For my post-prom snack many years ago I went to a burger joint. It was one of the few places open at 2am. And it was in the Telegraph Ave area of Berkeley....anyway, being "too dressed up" was something that never would have occurred to me, and it was something that never would have occurred to me as a mother either. argghh....I feel your pain.

As to the OP, it is true that if you get a reputation for picking good restaurants sooner or later you will become the "go-to" person when your friends need to choose. Its kind of the same phenomenon that causes the fastest googler to always be asked the answers to some trivia question or the other. I have a group of colleagues that often get together in some strange city or the other, and invariably I am asked for restaurant suggestions. I haven't told them my secret (www.chowhound.com:-). I kind of like the fact that they think I'm talented in this area, just as the guy who can google quickly will keep answering questions rather than say the obvious, which is "Why don't you google it yourself?"

My son is moving to the Farm (what can I say; this Bear is trying to make the best of it...:-), and we are starting to collect restaurant suggestions. Both for him AND for us when we go to visit.

Both inexpensive and "special occasion" suggestions welcome. And we love Chaat and South Indian, and I know there are good places nearby...so which are your favorites? Your suggestions must be vegetarian-friendly, and the closer to Stanfurd (sic) Medical Center the better!

Thoughts, hounds?

ummm....I thought you said there was bacon in the potatoes. DH is particularly careful to avoid bacon, as he thinks of it as a "gateway" meat...(ie it gets you hooked and then you want more meat:-)

I remembered having read a positive review of this place here, and since we were in the area and hungry at lunchtime we decided to stop by....I just wanted to say that the food is great, service better, and a locally-owned place like this deserves chowhound's business. It's right off 80 (first Verdi exit coming from Reno), and would be a great place to stop if you're headed to/from Truckee or beyond (although actually, its really only a 10 or 15 minute drive from downtown Reno).

The owner (Abel), came over to greet us after we were seated, and DH immediately recognized him as having been a server at El Adobe Café (and he remembered us from our many visits there). We chatted briefly; he opened his place about 20 months ago. There is a sports bar on one side and the restaurant on the other, and apparently there is live music frequently in the evenings as well as other special events.
It was cool, and we'd been walking outside, so soup seemed appropriate.
The waitress told me that the albondigas are wonderful, but alas they weren't ready yet today (a broken sprinkler system pipe had delayed opening this am; apparently they were just done mopping up when we arrived). So I settled for the pozole. A HUGE bowl for around 8 or 9 bucks, with all the accroutements (cabbage, cilantro, onion, dried oregano, dried red chilis, etc). DH had a chili relleno plate; I like that there is a choice of black, whole pintos, or refritos. everything was very tasty. We washed it down with a couple of excellent margaritas.

Abel did hint that he wished that they were a little busier, and it wasn't all that busy for a Sunday lunch, especially given the date. So I say check it out...we will keep it on the list as a favorite place to stop for dinner as we head back into town from California....

My husband and there stopped for dessert and a beer recently when another nearby place we wanted to go to closed early. The beer was pretty good, and the outdoor patio will be nice in summer, but I was NOT impressed with dessert. I forget what we had, but it was one the waitress said was her favorite, and even though the two of us shared it we didn't finish it....just not worth the calories. I doubt if we'll be back anytime soon, mainly because there seemed to be few vegetarian-friendly dishes on the menu.....

Honestly, I don't remember the name. But that doesn't ring a bell....I know my husband did some work on the TVs at the one on Mt. Rose, and I think I would have remembered if it was the same place. But I could be wrong. I remember it being something mountain-related in the name. And although they have a pizza oven, they specialize in flat breads (with toppings so like pizza....). It is literally right above security in the large area between the two concourses that used to be security until it was moved downstairs....

OK, here's my report: To some extent, my worries turned out to be moot: I got off work early (which almost NEVER happens), AND there was NO line at security on a Friday afternoon...so as it turned out I DID have time to eat at the airport in Reno. And although it probably belongs on another thread, I have to give a shoutout to the new bar/restaurant between the concourses but after Security. Great vegetarian bean soup and fairly reasonable prices. And they have a wood-fired pizza oven! AND my flight was early in arriving in Phoenix, AND the departing flight was at an adjacent gate to the one from Reno, so there WAS time to buy something to eat in Phoenix, even with only a 40 minute layover.

As for the food I pre-ordered: when I got to my seat, the flight attendant came over even before the plane took off and said "Janet, right? I have your meal for you." And then he informed me what I'd already guessed: "Its probably good you ordered ahead of time; this is a full flight and they only loaded five meals to sell" (Note to US Air: why not load more - you probably could have sold them and made money?) And as for those who suggested the veggie and/or kosher meals, I don't think that's an option in coach with the meals for purchase (it certainly wasn't listed as an option in the pre-order email I received, and if I had tried to ask for it I probably would have been told that the fruit/cheese plate WAS the kosher and vegetarian option:-). You guys have been living in first class too long:-) I do exactly that when I take an international flight, btw.

As for the meal itself, I got a salad. I HATE wraps, and that was really the only option other than the fruit and cheese plate or the dreaded wrap. And it was edible, but barely:-) But if I hadn't been having such a good karma day and hadn't had time to eat before the flight, I would have been glad to have it. And glad to have ordered it, since the meals for sale were long gone by the time they got to row 24.......

The "grab a bite when you get there" thing works a lot easier when flying East to West. When flying West to East you lose time, and often arrive long after dinner time.....Keep that in mind.....

Well, I'm fully capable of alternatives. But there is an event I committed to going to the night before my flight (ie tomorrow night). It is in our state capitol, 30 miles away, and I barely have time to get there from work assuming I get off on time (not a good assumption always:-). And then I will be back from that event around 9pm, and have to be at work at 8am Friday......And somewhere there I have to do a load of laundry and pack. I WILL bring a zip lock bag of raw almonds and dried fruit, and I suspect they will be eaten by 11am when I am at work with no break for five hours Fri. am. And DH COULD make me something, and it would no doubt be delicious, but I guarantee you it would be spicy and (overly) fragrant and perhaps not the best choice when crammed into a thin metal tube.....so my question is and was: has anyone tried any of the offered meals? Do they really have them as ordered? I have been on MANY flights were there was supposedly some kind of food for sale and it was long gone before anyone offered any to me. Not eating is NOT a good alternative, especially if you are my seatmate. Drinking and not eating is worse. And yes, this is about fuel. If I have to eat the US Air fuel, wondering if A. it will really be available, and B. what options are best. Geez.

Probably the best suggestion so far:-) Unfortunately DH doesn't eat steaks so won't appreciate the branding. And since he doesn't eat meat and has cheese very rarely, he might not be the best person to trust to buy the picnic. Wish this town had a decent chaat house; he could be trusted to pick up some bhel puri and maybe some dhokla....now that would make a good picnic!

Well, the flight doesn't land until midnight Chicago time, so a late dinner once I get there is probably not a good option, especially since I have to be up and semi-alert at 7:30 or so the next am. And I plan on bringing a snack or maybe a sandwich to work to nibble on before I get off at two. And I HATE sub sandwiches.....reminds me of Subway (see the thread somewhere about the smell...). I just wondered if anyone had actually TRIED the options listed....how bad can a fruit/cheese plate be anyway? And the drive from work to the airport is about 10 minutes, max, so eating in the car on the way is not a good option. If I had an hour to kill I would go to a favorite pho joint just a block or so from the airport and fill up there. But I really don't. When I said "short" trip to Chicago, I didn't mean it is a short fight for me....just one of those weekends where I will spend as much time in airports and airplanes as in meetings....

This is sort of like that old joke about the two women complaining about the food they ate at their recent stay in a Catskills resort: "The food was awful!" "Yes, and they served such small portions!..."

I was very nervous about how to handle my food necessities on an upcoming (short) trip to Chicago. I have to work until around 2pm on Friday with no real break, then head straight to the airport to catch my flight. I do change planes in Phoenix, but with less than an hour there I can't count on having time to buy food. (And really, I may not have enough time to purchase anything at the airport before I leave). I know there are meals for sale onboard, but it always seems that they run out of everything before half the plane is served, and the variety/portion size doesn't make for a satisfying meal.....and I have been on flights where there were no real meals available, only snacks....

So I was trying to convince my hubby to have a lunch ready for me when he took me to the airport after work, but his culinary strengths don't lend themselves to grab and carry meals. So I was actually pleasantly surprised to receive an email from US Air: apparently they now offer you the chance to pre-order a meal before the flight (and you can change it up to 24 hours in advance). Then when you get on the plane they just bring it to you and charge your credit card. If the flight is cancelled or you miss it due to delays, no meal and you don't have to pay.

Sure, its the same old lousy food, but at least you know that there will be enough for you to have some. (Or should I not count on it working as advertised?) Have any of you ever done this, and if so is there a particular meal choice that is better than the others? Is the fruit/cheese plate enough for a light supper? How about the salads (the one offered comes with chicken....). Remember, I would normally bring my own or buy something at the airport, but the timing (including an event the evening before) makes it very difficult for me to do so this trip.....

Follow up: Thanks, Rev, for the suggestion: Bite was perfect! (Actually, the entire evening was perfect...we started with a bottle of pinot noir and perfect evening weather at the beach bar at the Hyatt, and then headed over to Bite).

The ahi sliders are to die for, btw. Also had the goat cheese sliders, vegetarian empanadas, fish tacos, grilled asparagus, crispy onion rings, and shared a serving of bread pudding for desert. About the only thing that was less than perfect to me were the fish tacos...a little soggy. The bread pudding is wonderful! Our server was very accommodating: the sliders come in servings of two each and she made it into a serving of three so we wouldn't end up with an extra (although we probably would have fought over an extra ahi slider). Would definitely like to go back; maybe we can take you to dinner there sometime this summer?. If anyone is interested, our meal (including a generous tip, a round of their wonderful custom-crafted cocktails, some spicy honeyed walnuts to nibble on with the drinks, and two coffees) came to around $150. The tapas format was perfect, as it allowed us to share food and food stories as we got to know our new relative (who was raised in Panama but is of Gujarati heritage, and currently lives in downtown Philadelphia and is definitely a chowhound at heart:-)

Bite actually sounds very good.....I think we'll try it! Thanks, Rev!!

My husband's soon-to-be niece (by marriage) will be in Reno for a conference starting Sunday pm for a few days. She doesn't have much play time, but we would like to show her Lake Tahoe. We plan on picking her up around 5 pm Sunday and taking her up to at least get the good views and maybe have a drink at the beach bar at the Hyatt. But frankly that's not my favorite place to have dinner afterwards. So any suggestions? Le Bistro sounds great, but its not open on Sundays. Bonus points for a Lake view, not overly expensive, and seafood-centric. Am I dreaming?

the steak was wonderful! A bone-in ribeye!! Lots of fat and iron for my cravings:-) And the sandwich with the leftover steak sliced with horseradish, mayo, and tomatoes on sour dough bread was pretty good for lunch today as well!

And my husband agrees with the mollusk/snail thing. I think he just likes the garlic:-)

There is a discussion here about undercooked foods, and how to politely bring up things with the waiter....well, sometimes they do get it right and this is just my way of saying thank you (and maybe a hope that others will read and take the hint...)

Last night my husband took me out for a "treat" dinner...we'd had a busy and hard week. I had been hinting for a few days that I was craving a good steak (DH is a pescatarian and specifically doesn't want beef in the house for religious reasons, but he doesn't mind if I eat it when we go out together..). He had told me the location of dinner out would be a surprise, and I WAS surprised when he pulled up to a well-known local fish house (I figured he hadn't gotten my hints, or had chosen to ignore them). But as we entered he told me he had specifically chosen the place because he had heard they had good steaks, even though they are known for fish, and he figured we both would find dinners we could enjoy....

And as it turns out, they do. But I digress....DH chose as a starter French Onion Soup (something he loves, and which I make at home without beef stock). I pointed out to him that it was likely to contain beef in a restaurant; and when he asked the waiter this was confirmed. But I have to love the waiter for what came next: when DH said "OK, then I'll have the clam chowder" the waiter nicely said, "Sir, if it matters to you that contains bacon. In fact, all of our soups tonight contain some kind of meat product." Now, my husband never said he doesn't eat meat (he doesn't like to make a big deal out of it), but the waiter found a nice way to warn him just in case........and we much appreciated it....

So DH settled for his second favorite starter, escargot. Which led to a discussion as we ate the garlicky little buggers: are escargot meat or not? He claims that they have shells, so they are a type of shellfish even if they live on land...the waiter didn't seem to think it was an odd choice for a non meat-eater either.....

That waiter was excellent in several other ways as well, and he deserved his nice tip. What a nice way to kindly point out that DH might want to re-consider his order....I wish more wait staff could be as sensitive, rather than the usual game of answering five or six questions as to what contains what and never making a suggestion as to things they might like. Maybe the place just trains its servers well, or maybe because it is a fish restaurant they are used to those who don't eat red meat.....

No specific suggestions for Laughlin, but you might try crossing the river and driving down Highway 95 into/through Bullhead City, AZ. At least there you'll likely find decent Mexican food.....Laughlin is pure casino food....

I have a vivid memory of a former boyfriend who, when faced with a similar situation, climbed up a nearby rock and shouted out for all to hear: "You'll never reach Buddha-hood if you are noisy in the mountains!"

"Dining out sometimes feels like rolling the dice...." lol, so true. Off topic, but since this is "Not About Food" that is exactly why I like the boarding process on Southwest Airlines. I know people who shudder at the thought of no assigned seats, and talk about "cattle calls" - but at least if you see/hear a crying baby you can choose not to sit nearby.....

To get back on topic, I try and check out who is where when I enter the restaurant. Then if I see some situation I obviously want to avoid, I just ask to be seated elsewhere......

I too have experienced problems getting the bill at airport restaurants...agree that it makes no sense! Of course, there are two types likely to eat there....the first is between flights and hungry and in a hurry...the second are those whose flight was just cancelled/delayed and have lots of time to kill. Maybe that second type is what the staff is more used to seeing....But I feel your pain: I have gotten to the point where I pointedly ask for the check when ordering at the airport restaurant. And if its not brought with the food I ask again. I am not above pretending to leave; as I believe someone pointed out, that usually works....

El Adobe Cafe has long been our "go to" sit-down Mexican place in Reno. You might try the trout special sometime....Also the albondigas are good. We like them for breakfast; great chilaquiles!

I have to agree. And truly it seems like a lot of bother by the restaurant. Of course, I am sympathetic to those who must dash in to a restaurant to pee...I have a weak bladder and often am confronted with the need to go. My friends joke that I know every nice restroom on the west coast:-) And there is some truth to that...I never forget a good restroom. In fact, I still could tell you the security code of the restroom in a certain hospital in Paris near Notre Dame Cathedral:-) (There is a code because its only supposed to be for patients and visitors, but I sweet-talked a guard out of the code one day...and used it successfully on a subsequent trip to Paris some five years later!) That being said, I really don't like using restrooms in restaurants without paying. I just feel guilty. I do use the supermarket trick (restrooms are towards the back, and people don't notice as much if you use it and don't buy anything). More commonly, however, I just duck into McDonald's and buy a coffee......

Actually, I remember doing exactly that several times when I was in high school. I didn't do drinks, obviously, but I did pick up plates, serve apps, replenish the buffet, help with dishes, etc....The advantage to hiring a high school student is that they probably will work more cheaply, especially if you throw some food in the mix. I enjoyed doing it (it was fun to people watch, and I don't mind kitchen work). I even picked up a few party ideas and a recipe or two! Ask your friends if they know any good candidates.....

Sorry for the choice of words. But honestly, the last time I checked someone would be "guilty" of a crime even if they did it solely because they were afraid they would be fired if they didn't. Their boss might be guilty for asking them to do it, and they might be horribly victimized by their boss and that might mitigate when it comes to sentencing, but they would still be "guilty." I think you are over-reacting to words I didn't even think about. That being said, perhaps if more people complained about this sort of behavior right when it happens, perhaps those doing what we would prefer they not do (There, is that better? :-) would get the message and change their ways. Fast food joints have those kinds of policies because most people go there no matter what. And that was really my point.

Sunset bills itself as the"Magazine of the American West" or something like that so maybe not distributed outside of here. Recipe was simply called, "Indian-Spiced Guacamole" IIRC